ELIZABETH LAIRD is the author of Kiss the Dust, The Garbage King and A Little Piece of Ground, and has been shortlisted five times for the Carnegie Medal. She has a longstanding interest in Persian literature. Her other books for Frances Lincoln are Pea Boy: Stories from Iran, A Fistful of Pearls: Stories from Iraq and The Ogress and the Snake: Stories from Somalia. She divides her time between London and Edinburgh. SHIRIN ADL is an Iranian illustrator who studied at Loughborough University, and was the winner of the Hallmark M&S Talented Designer Award. She was Booktrust's official illustrator for Children's Book Week in 2010. The books she has illustrated for Frances Lincoln include Pea Boy: Stories from Iran, Ramadan Moon, Let's Celebrate: Festival Poems from Around the World, Let's Play: Poems about Sports and Games from Around the World and Book of Dreams, which she both wrote and illustrated. Shirin lives in Oxford.

Contents AT THE BEGINNING OF TIME King Hushang, the Master of Fire King Tahmuras, the Tamer of Animals Jamshid the Glorious, Master of the World THE WICKED KING ZAHHAK Zahhak Murders his Father Greedy Zahhak and his Loathsome Snakes The Death of the Great Jamshid Faranak Hides her Little Son Feridun Learns the Truth Kaveh, the Courageous Blacksmith Feridun Rides to War The Triumph of Feridun SAM, THE FIRST CHAMPION OF KINGS The Champion Sam, and Zal, his White-Haired Son Sam Searches for his Son Zal Goes Hunting King Mehrab's Beautiful Daughter Rudabeh's Companions Set their Trap The Falcon Catches the Dove The Marriage of Zal and Rudabeh RUSTAM THE HERO A Champion is Born The Miraculous Baby Rustam and the White Elephant Trouble Comes to Iran Rustam Finds his Marvellous Horse Rustam Seeks for a King The Noble Kay Kobad THE FOOLISH KING KAY KAVUS The White Demon of Mazanderan Zal Hears the News THE SEVEN TRIALS OF RUSTAM Rustam's First Trial Rustam's Second Trial Rustam's Third Trial Rustam's Fourth Trial Rustam's Fifth Trial Rustam's Sixth Trial Rustam Finds the King Rustam's Seventh Trial Ulad Wins his Kingdom KAY KAVUS THE FOOLISH Rebellion in Barbary The King of Hamaveran's Daughter The King of Hamaveran Takes his Revenge Kay Kavus Flies with the Eagles THE STORY OF RUSTAM AND SOHRAB Rustam Loses Rakhsh The King of Samagan's Daughter Tahmineh The Birth of Sohrab Afrasyab Plots and Plans Sohrab and the White Fortress Gordafarid, the Warrior Girl RUSTAM IS SUMMONED King Kavus Sends for Rustam The Anger of Kay Kavus Kay Kavus and Rustam March to War Rustam Spies on Sohrab Sohrab Looks for Rustam THE BATTLE OF SOHRAB AND RUSTAM Sohrab Makes his Challenge The First Battle Between Sohrab and Rustam Sohrab and Rustam Return to their Camps Sohrab Throws Rustam to the Ground The Final Battle The Grief of Rustam The Death of Rustam